The Hotel Ahl Meerkatzen is situated in the heart of the city, 10 mins walk from the main railway station and cathedral, 5 mins walk from the Rhine and near to the Heumarkt tram stop (it's quicker to walk from the main station than to catch a tram from the station to Heumarkt) and chocolate museum. The hotel staff are friendly and helpful and most of the rooms are clean, comfortable and spacious.

We had requested double rooms for all of our party, but all the rooms had single beds which we had to push together. One of the couples we travelled with was allocated a room barely larger than the two single beds pushed together but when they requested a larger room they were moved without any problems. The feather filled, shapeless pillows which seem to be fairly common in Germany weren't very comfortable, but the beds were OK (although I am renowned for being able to sleep anywhere!).

The en suite facilities were basic and the shower overflow system consisted of a drain in the middle of the bathroom floor, which flooded the whole bathroom when the shower was used. We worked out that the trick is not to put the towel on the floor until AFTER you have had a shower!

There is no bar in the hotel but each room has a reasonably priced minibar, although personally I would have preferred tea/coffee making facilities, which weren't provided.

This hotel is ideal for those travelling on a budget, but be aware you need to be fairly open minded to stay in this area. There are at least 3 sex shops in the vicinity (including one next door to the hotel which displays its wares in the window) and two transvestite bars less than 100 metres away. That said, the hotel is clean, quiet and friendly and the area does not appear particularly seedy, unless you include seeing gay couples holding hands, which is fairly common throughout Cologne.